There are few modern-day frustrations as universally understood as the blinking low-ink light. It’s a moment that always seems to arrive with impeccable, almost cruel, timing. You’re on a tight deadline, the final draft of a crucial report is ready, or your child has just remembered a school project is due tomorrow morning. You hit “Print,” and instead of the familiar whirring of your machine, you’re met with a stark on-screen message: “Black Ink Cartridge Empty.” The panic sets in. A simple task suddenly becomes a frantic search for a replacement, a potential late-night trip to a store, or a compromise on a project you’ve poured hours into. This scenario is precisely why the reliability and performance of something as seemingly simple as an ink cartridge are so critical. It’s not just about putting ink on paper; it’s about dependability when it matters most.
- Sold as 1 Each.
- Rely on original HP ink for consistent, high-quality results.
What to Consider Before Buying Printer Ink Cartridges
An ink cartridge is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for translating digital work into the physical world. For students, professionals, and creatives, it’s the final, crucial step in countless projects. The primary benefit of choosing a genuine manufacturer cartridge, like the HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge, is the promise of seamless integration and optimal performance. This promise includes vibrant, accurate colors, sharp text, and a reduced risk of printer damage that can sometimes occur with poorly made third-party alternatives. It’s about ensuring that the quality of your printed output matches the effort you put into creating the digital original.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who owns a compatible HP ENVY or Tango series printer and prioritizes print quality and printer longevity above all else. This includes photographers printing proofs, small business owners creating client-facing documents, and families who want their photos and schoolwork to look their best. However, it might not be the most suitable choice for those on a very tight budget or high-volume users who print hundreds of text-heavy pages weekly. For them, a high-yield (XL) cartridge, a laser printer, or a subscription service like HP’s Instant Ink might offer a more cost-effective solution in the long run. The trade-off is often between the upfront cost and the cost-per-page.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Compatibility & Authenticity: This is the most critical factor. Always double-check that the cartridge model (in this case, HP 64) is explicitly listed as compatible with your exact printer model. Modern printers have sophisticated firmware that can detect and reject non-genuine or incompatible cartridges, leading to wasted money and significant frustration. Buying from reputable sources is key to avoiding counterfeit products.
- Page Yield & Cost-Per-Page: The advertised page yield (200 pages for the standard HP 64) is based on an industry standard of 5% page coverage, which is essentially a short letter. If you print dense text, graphics, or full-page photos, your actual yield will be significantly lower. Calculating the cost-per-page (cartridge price / expected page yield) is a much better metric for value than the upfront price alone.
- Ink Type & Quality: The HP 64 uses genuine HP ink designed for fast drying, smudge resistance, and fade resistance. For archival documents or high-quality photo prints, the quality of the ink formulation is paramount. Cheaper, third-party inks may not offer the same longevity or sharpness, and can even clog printer heads over time.
- Installation & Ease of Use: A genuine cartridge should be a simple plug-and-play experience. It should be easy to unbox, handle without making a mess, and click securely into the printer. The printer’s software should then immediately recognize it and provide an accurate reading of the ink level, a process we found to be straightforward with a genuine cartridge.
Ultimately, choosing the right ink is about balancing quality, cost, and convenience for your specific printing needs.
While the HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge is an excellent choice for its intended printers, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition and the printers they serve. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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First Impressions and Unboxing the HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge
The HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge arrives in the familiar, distinctive blue and white HP packaging, which immediately conveys a sense of authenticity. Inside the cardboard box, the cartridge itself is sealed in a sturdy, airtight foil pouch. This is a crucial detail, as it protects the sensitive print head and ink from drying out before installation. Tearing it open reveals the compact cartridge. The first thing we noticed, which several users have also commented on, is its surprisingly light weight and small size. It certainly feels “teensy,” as one user put it, which can create an initial perception of low value. However, this compact design is standard for many modern all-in-one photo printers like the ENVY series, which prioritize a smaller overall footprint.
Handling the cartridge is clean and simple. A small plastic tab, typically orange or pink, protects the electronic contacts and print nozzles. Removing this is the only step required before installation. The cartridge clicks into its designated slot in the printer with a satisfying and secure feel. In our testing with an HP ENVY Photo 7855, the printer recognized the genuine HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge instantly, and the HP Smart app updated the ink levels to “Full” within seconds. This seamless handshake between hardware and software is the primary benefit you pay for with an original manufacturer’s product.
What We Like
- Produces exceptionally sharp, consistent, and deep black tones.
- Genuine HP ink ensures seamless printer compatibility and recognition (when not defective).
- Prints are smudge-resistant and dry quickly, ideal for documents and photos.
- Easy, mess-free installation process.
What We Didn’t Like
- Very low page yield relative to its price, leading to a high cost-per-page.
- Disturbing number of user reports citing defective, used, or counterfeit cartridges being received.
Performance Under Pressure: A Deep Dive into the HP 64
An ink cartridge has one job, but how well it performs that job can be judged on several fronts: the quality of the marks it makes, its relationship with the machine it lives in, and the overall value it provides over its short lifespan. We put the HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge through its paces, cross-referencing our findings with real-world user experiences to paint a complete, unvarnished picture.
Print Quality and Consistency
This is, without a doubt, where the HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge shines brightest. When you get a genuine, working cartridge, the results are impeccable. We started with standard text documents—reports, articles, and emails printed in various font sizes. The text was consistently razor-sharp, with crisp edges and no bleeding, even on standard copy paper. The black is a true, deep black, not a faded charcoal or grayish tone. This was perfectly articulated by one user who prints their artwork, stating, “the color is even, the lines are sharp, there is no variation between the shades of black… It’s just perfect. Every time!”
To push it further, we printed several documents containing fine-lined graphs and tables, as well as a few high-resolution grayscale photographs on glossy photo paper. The cartridge handled the gradients in the photos beautifully, producing smooth transitions without banding. The fine lines in the charts remained distinct and unbroken. The ink’s smudge-resistant properties were also immediately apparent; pages were handleable straight from the printer without any smearing. This level of quality is precisely what users expect when they opt for an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) product over a cheaper refill or third-party alternative. For anyone using an HP ENVY Photo printer for its intended purpose—printing high-quality photos and professional-looking documents—the output from a genuine HP 64 cartridge delivers on its promise of professional results.
The Compatibility Gamble: Installation and Printer Communication
This is where our review encounters a significant and troubling divide. Our own installation experience was flawless. The printer accepted the cartridge without issue, performed a quick alignment page print, and was ready to go. This ideal scenario is what HP designs and what many customers experience. However, a cursory glance at user feedback reveals a starkly different and distressingly common reality for others. A large number of users report receiving cartridges that are either defective on arrival (DOA), have been previously used, or are flagged by the printer’s firmware as counterfeit.
Users describe a frustrating loop of error messages: “Cartridge cannot be recognized,” “counterfeit or used cartridge detected,” or simply a complete failure to print. One user noted, “My HP Envy photo 7855 did not like this cartridge. I got the error message. Tried every fix… I bought another HP cartridge at Target and it works fine.” This strongly suggests a quality control or supply chain issue where faulty or even tampered-with products are reaching customers. Some have received cartridges with the protective strip already removed or the packaging crudely taped shut. This is an unacceptable experience when purchasing what is marketed as a premium, genuine product. While our test unit worked perfectly, the sheer volume of these complaints indicates a significant risk for any buyer. It transforms the simple act of replacing ink from a two-minute task into a potential troubleshooting nightmare and a waste of time and money.
The Value Proposition: Page Yield vs. High Cost
The sticker price of the HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge often induces a bit of shock, especially when you consider its physical size. The official yield is rated at approximately 200 pages. It’s crucial to understand that this number is based on the ISO/IEC 24711 standard, which assumes only 5% of an A4 page is covered in ink. In the real world, almost no one prints like this. A standard, double-spaced page of text is closer to 10% coverage, and a document with bold headings, a small graphic, or a dense paragraph can easily be 15-20%. Printing an 8×10 photo can use as much ink as dozens of text pages.
This discrepancy is the source of immense frustration for users. One comment perfectly captured this: “I can print 20 pages of Black white office papers and 5 8×10 photos….. Gone.” This feels less like 200 pages and more like a few dozen, leading to feelings of being “ripped off.” Users note that it “feels lighter than before” and lament the “teensy tiny cartridge.” When you do the math, the cost-per-page for the HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge is quite high, especially for anyone who prints more than a few pages per week. This economic reality forces a difficult choice on consumers: pay the premium for OEM quality that runs out quickly, explore the HP Instant Ink subscription service (which this cartridge is eligible for), or risk the potential compatibility issues of third-party options. For very infrequent printers, the cartridge may even dry out before it’s empty, as one user experienced, adding another layer to the value problem.
What Other Users Are Saying
The user experience with the HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge is deeply polarized. On one side, there are customers who receive a perfect product and are thrilled with the results. As one satisfied artist shared, “The results of this ink always surprise me, the color is even, the lines are sharp… I use this ink for printing my artwork… and it gives me professional results.” This sentiment is echoed by others who simply state, “Perfect HP Ink. as usual.” These users value the quality and reliability and are willing to pay the associated price.
On the other, more vocal side, the feedback is overwhelmingly negative and centers on two major themes. The first is the alarming frequency of receiving defective, used, or counterfeit products. Dozens of reviews contain phrases like “Cartridge was defective,” “printer would not recognize cartridges,” and “the box have been taped shut, the package the ink was in was open.” This is a serious issue that erodes trust. The second major complaint is the perceived poor value. Users are frustrated by what they see as a “total rip,” calling it a “teensy tiny cartridge” that is “wildly overpriced” and contributes to plastic waste. They feel trapped in an expensive ecosystem, especially since HP printers are known to block generic ink cartridges, making the OEM product a forced purchase.
Comparing the Competition: HP 64 Alternatives
While the HP 64 is a specific cartridge for a specific set of printers, understanding its place in the broader market is helpful. Here’s how it compares to other popular ink cartridges available.
1. HP 910XL High-yield Black Ink Cartridge
- HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- This cartridge works with: HP OfficeJet 8010, 8010e, 8012e, 8014e, 8015, 8015e, 8018, 8022, 8022e; HP OfficeJet Pro 8020, 8020e, 8024e, 8025, 8025e, 8028,...
The HP 910XL is designed for a different line of printers—primarily the OfficeJet and OfficeJet Pro series. The key difference here is the “XL” designation, which signifies a high-yield cartridge. While the upfront cost is higher than the standard HP 64, the 910XL offers a much greater page yield (typically around 825 pages), resulting in a significantly lower cost-per-page. This makes it a far more economical choice for users with compatible OfficeJet printers who do a lot of text-based printing. Someone who might prefer this is a small business owner or a student who prints hundreds of pages of reports and research papers per month and for whom cost efficiency is the top priority.
2. Brother Genuine LC401BK Standard Yield Black Ink Cartridge
- DELIVERS SUPERIOR INKJET QUALITY: Brother Genuine LC401BK Standard Yield Black Ink Cartridges deliver superior inkjet print quality with sharp prints you...
- INTELLIGENT ENGINEERING: Intelligently engineered to work seamlessly with your Brother color inkjet all-in-one printer to deliver outstanding results and...
The Brother LC401BK represents an entirely different printer ecosystem. Brother printers are often lauded for the affordability of their consumables, and this cartridge is a prime example. It is designed for Brother’s INKvestment Tank printers, which aim to provide more ink and a lower running cost from the outset. While the print quality is excellent for general office tasks, HP’s ENVY Photo series printers (which use the HP 64) are generally considered superior for high-resolution photo printing. A user might prefer the Brother ecosystem if their primary need is reliable, low-cost document printing and they are purchasing a new printer and cartridge system from scratch.
3. HP 67 Black/Tri-color Ink Cartridges
- HP Ink Cartridges are engineered to work with HP printers to provide consistent quality, reliability and value
- This cartridge works with: HP DeskJet 1255, 2710e, 2720e, 2721e, 2722, 2722e, 2723e, 2724, 2725, 2732, 2742e, 2752e, 2755, 2755e, 4110e, 4120e, 4121e,...
The HP 67 cartridge is similar to the HP 64 in that it’s designed for HP’s consumer-grade printers, specifically the DeskJet and newer ENVY series (like the 6000 and 6400 lines). It faces many of the same criticisms regarding low page yield and high cost for the standard cartridge. However, it is often sold in combo packs with the tri-color cartridge, which can offer a slight cost saving. The choice between an HP 64 and an HP 67 is not one a user makes directly; it’s determined entirely by which printer model they own. This highlights the most important rule of ink buying: compatibility is everything.
Final Verdict: A Premium Product with a Serious Catch
The HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge is a product of two extremes. When it works as intended, it is an exceptional performer, delivering the rich, sharp, and professional-quality prints that HP printers are known for. For users of compatible ENVY Photo and Tango printers who prioritize flawless output for photos and important documents above all else, the quality is undeniable. The installation is simple, and the ink’s smudge- and fade-resistant properties are a real benefit.
However, this premium performance is severely undermined by two significant issues: a high cost-per-page due to a low page yield, and an alarming number of credible reports of defective, used, or rejected cartridges. The value proposition is a tough sell for anyone who prints more than occasionally, and the risk of receiving a non-functional unit adds a layer of gamble that shouldn’t exist with a genuine manufacturer product. Our recommendation is therefore conditional: if you are a light-use consumer who needs the absolute best print quality from your ENVY printer and are willing to pay the premium, the HP 64 Black Ink Cartridge is the technically correct choice. However, we advise you to purchase from a highly reputable seller and to install and test it immediately upon receipt to ensure you haven’t received a dud.
Last update on 2025-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API